Monster Energy Honda Team continue to make satisfactory progress in the FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship as the results from the second round in Qatar improve on those previously obtained in Abu Dhabi.

The second race in the FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship disputed in Qatar this weekend has closed with Monster Energy Honda Team on the rostrum. The Qatar Rally – renowned for its tough navigation – once again put the duo through their paces over five gruelling stages, both of whom finished in top positions. Portuguese rider Paulo Gonçalves finished runner-up overall and Argentine Kevin Benavides, fifth.

Improving on the previous race performance, Gonçalves consistently maintained a swift pace, clinching second place overall, which leaves the team stalwart in third spot in the championship standings. His Monster Energy Honda Team companion Kevin Benavides continued with his battle to get back to full strength after last December’s unexpected wrist injury. In his second race back, Benavides even managed to open the track and was clearly starting to feel comfortable again aboard the Honda CRF450 RALLY. The machine had performed well in far-from-easy terrain with scorching temperatures and hard track that made a particularly tough test for the engine’s power and the performance of the suspension.

Next, for the team, comes a series of tests in California, U.S.A. for several of the Monster Energy Honda Team riders. Subsequently Joan Barreda and Michael Metge will defend the Baja España title in July. The third round of the FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship will take place in August with the Atacama Rally in the Chilean desert.

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE.

2017 Cross-Country Rallies
Post-Race Round FIM-2 , 1   Qatar

Final results Qatar Rally 2017

Pos. Rider Num Nation Team Constructor Time/Gap
1 Sunderland Sam GBR KTM Factory Racing Team KTM 15:50'18
2 Goncalves Paulo POR Monster Energy Honda Team Honda +7'42
3 Walkner Matthias AUT KTM Factory Racing Team KTM +13'11
4 Quintanilla Pablo CHI Husqvarna Factory Rally Team Husqvarna +15'02
5 Benavides Kevin ARG Monster Energy Honda Team Honda +17'48
6 Renet Pierre-Alexandre FRA Husqvarna Factory Rally Team Husqvarna +20'01
7 Meo Antoine FRA KTM Factory Racing Team KTM +2:18'25
8 Al Balooshi Mohammed UAE Ride to Abu Dhabi Team KTM +3:34'36
9 Tomiczek Adam POL Orlen Team KTM +4:33'25
10 Giemza Maciej POL Orlen Team KTM +5:31'28
2017 Cross-Country Rallies
Post-Race Round FIM-2 , 1   Qatar

Championship standings

Pos. Rider Num Nation Team Constructor Time/Gap
1 Sunderland Sam GBR KTM Factory Racing Team KTM 61 points
2 Quintanilla Pablo CHI Husqvarna Factory Rally Team Husqvarna 40 points
3 Goncalves Paulo POR Monster Energy Honda Team Honda 39 points
4 Walkner Matthias AUT KTM Factory Racing Team KTM 39 points
5 Renet Pierre-Alexandre FRA Husqvarna Factory Rally Team Husqvarna 28 points
6 Meo Antoine FRA KTM Factory Racing Team KTM 25 points
7 Al Balooshi Mohammed UAE Ride to Abu Dhabi Team KTM 23 points
8 Tomiczek Adam POL Orlen Team KTM 20 points
9 Benavides Kevin ARG Monster Energy Honda Team Honda 19 points
10 McBride David GBR Vendetta Racing KTM 17 points

Monster Energy Honda Team Rd2 Qatar

Monster Energy Honda Team Rd2 Qatar

Location Information

We have great pleasure in welcoming you to the desert landscapes of Qatar and we hope that our varied desert terrain of soft sand, of dunes, of hard and rocky terrain all provide suitable challenges for our FIA and FIM World Championship contenders and competitors over the five hard days… read more.

Losail International Race Circuit, Municipalidad de Al Daayen, Catar - View in Google Maps

Records

2017 Sam Sunderland (KTM)
2016 Sam Sunderland (KTM)
2015 Marc Coma (KTM)
2014 Joan Barreda (Honda)
2013 Marc Coma (KTM)
2012 Marc Coma (KTM)